Jajpur: A day of adventure turned into tragedy on Saturday when two local youths drowned while bathing in a waterfall at Pahadkhol, near Koil village under Sukinda police limits of Jajpur district. While the body of one youth has been recovered, search efforts are still underway for the other.
The deceased has been identified as Shambhu Pradhan (22) of Kanjiapal village in Lembo panchayat. The missing youth is Manas Mahanta, a B.Tech graduate from Koil village who was employed in Bengaluru.
According to reports, Shambhu, Manas, and a minor friend, Buturu Mahanta, went to bathe in the seasonal waterfall around 10 AM. Shambhu and Manas jumped into the water, but when they failed to resurface, Buturu—who had remained on the bank—immediately alerted family members and villagers.
By 1 PM, a team from the Sukinda Fire brigade reached the spot and, after an intense search, managed to retrieve Shambhu’s body. The operation proved difficult as their iron hook device got stuck in the deep pit beneath the waterfall. Later, a team from the Bhuban Fire brigade in Dhenkanal district joined the rescue efforts, which are still continuing to trace Manas.
The site of the tragedy lies in the Mahagiri hill range, under the Sukinda forest division. The waterfall, which plunges nearly 300 feet into a deep and treacherous pit, has been identified as hazardous. Locals say that since last year, many youngsters, often inspired by social media reels, have been flocking to this dangerous spot.
Police from Sukinda have reached the site and are investigating the incident. Meanwhile, grief has gripped both villages as rescue teams work against time to locate Manas.
